Written Answers Tuesday 15 December 2009

Scottish Executive

2014 Commonwealth Games

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take to ensure that all areas of Scotland enjoy an equitable share of the 2014 Commonwealth Games legacy.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has been very clear that hosting the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games should provide a lasting legacy for the whole of Scotland. We set out how all of Scotland can benefit from hosting major events in the website  A games legacy for Scotland  which was launched on 1 September 2009. The plan incorporates four themes and 45 potential programmes which can be adapted to the particular needs of local communities.

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/gameslegacy.

  In implementing the plan we will continue to work closely with our key partners from private, public and third sectors to deliver on legacy ambitions. In particular we have worked closely with COSLA and local authorities to identify legacy leads to co-ordinate activity in local areas.

  Specifically, all of Scotland will benefit from the £23.5 million funding in place to encourage people to get more active and involved in sport. The community sport hubs aspect of the legacy will help in bringing local people together and provide a home for local clubs and sports organisations. BIG Communities 2014 are also providing funding for local programmes aimed at improving grassroots support in local communities including at least nine in the Highlands.

  In addition Young Scot is also working with local authorities in identifying legacy ambassadors showcasing the good work of our young people. Scottish Enterprise with HIE have also embarked on road shows to highlight the business opportunities stemming from both London 2012 and Glasgow 2014.

  The Scottish Government firmly believes that the legacy for Scotland’s people and communities would benefit enormously from the return of £150 million from the UK Government to help fund London 2012. To this end we continue to press strongly for the return of these monies.

Ambulance Service

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the national response times are for calls to the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the Scottish Ambulance Service performed against national response time targets in (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the Scottish Ambulance Services performed against response time targets in (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09, broken down by (i) NHS board area and (ii) parliamentary constituency.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Ambulance Service national response time target for category A calls (life threatening) across mainland Scotland is that, by March 2009, 75% of all incidents should be reached within eight minutes. This measure is also part of the NHS Scotland HEAT Performance Management system.

  The Scottish Ambulance Service national response time target for category B calls (serious but not life threatening) across mainland Scotland is that, by March 2009, 95% of all incidents should be reached within 14, 19 or 21 minutes depending on population density.

  These targets are ones that the Scottish Ambulance Service were working towards during 2007-08 and 2008-09.

  The performance information requested is set out in the following table. Information broken down by parliamentary constituency is not held centrally.

  

NHS Board
March 2008(%)
March 2009(%)


Cat A
Cat B
Cat A
Cat B


Argyll and Clyde 
70.6
95.4
80.2
95.8


Ayrshire and Arran
65.5
95.4
75.7
97.2


Borders
53.7
90.3
65.6
94.3


Dumfries and Galloway
61.5
91.7
71.5
94.4


Fife
68.2
95.1
79.9
98.1


Forth Valley
65.0
93.9
77.8
97.4


Grampian
76.5
96.4
79.1
96.2


Greater Glasgow 
69.6
89.1
77.8
91.1


Highland
66.3
92.4
70.0
92.4


Lanarkshire
65.1
96.3
76.7
97.0


Lothian
69.3
96.1
78.7
96.9


Tayside
69.3
95.4
77.9
96.9


Mainland Scotland
68.4
94.0
77.4
95.5



  Notes:

  *Information provided by the Scottish Ambulance Service.

  **SAS systems record data under the previous structure of 15 geographic health boards.

Animal Welfare

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements were made for monitoring incidental capture and killing of animals listed in Annex IV(a) of the EU habitats directive from 1984 to 2009.

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements were made for ensuring that the incidental capture and killing of animals listed in Annex IV(a) of the EU habitats directive did not have a negative impact on the species in question from 1984 to 2009.

Roseanna Cunningham: The Habitats Directive came into force in 1992. Since 1994 two reports have been submitted by the UK Government to the EC as required by Article 17 of the Habitats Directive which include information on monitoring arrangements. These are:

  "The First Report by the UK under Article 17 on implementation of the Directive from June 1994 – December 2000"

  "The Second Report by the UK under Article 17 on implementation of the Directive from January 2001 – December 2006"

  Both reports are available on the Joint Nature Conservation Committee’s website.

  Bycatch of marine species, including whales, dolphins and porpoises is monitored via a sample-based monitoring scheme which is integrated with fishing activity (the UK Cetacean Bycatch Monitoring Scheme). Sample post mortems, through the UK Cetacean Strandings Co-ordination and Investigation Programme, provides data on incidental killing of marine species from other causes.

  Other species are monitored through informal measures. A systematic review of existing surveillance coverage throughout the UK has been undertaken by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC). The JNCC review showed that many of the bat species, otter, wild cat, great crested newt, smooth snake, sand lizard and dormouse are sufficiently widespread and abundant, to be exposed to risk of incidental capture and kill.

  SNH is preparing a surveillance action plan which has identified a need to review the requirements for surveillance throughout Scotland. This is based on the review of the existing surveillance coverage undertaken by the JNCC.

Banking

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the full disclosure of bankers’ remuneration packages and bonuses for all those earning over £200,000 per annum, as is the case for directors.

Jim Mather: We are clear that remuneration policies within our financial institutions should be consistent with effective governance and that transparency is an effective tool to assist major shareholders to reach informed judgements on governance issues.

Banking

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on class actions to demand compensation for excessive bank charges.

Jim Mather: While we support, in principle, measures to allow class actions, we do have some concerns about plans to hurriedly implement these measures.

  The Financial Services Bill which has been introduced to the UK Parliament makes provision for such proceedings for consumers of certain financial services. The Scottish Government is currently giving consideration to the recommendations in Lord Gill’s Report of the Scottish Civil Courts Review to establish class actions more generally, rather than in this sector specific manner, and initially in the Court of Session only.

  We have notified the UK Government that we consider these provisions in the Financial Services Bill in relation to class actions for consumers of certain financial services to be a reserved matter, however, we have also advised them that we will want to consider the procedural changes required in the Court of Session to provide for these sector specific proceedings in a manner that is compatible with implementing Lord Gill’s recommendations and that we wish therefore to be consulted on proposals and timings for implementation.

Carers

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities give preference to carers centres with a proven track record providing of support services to carers.

Shona Robison: Local authorities make decisions on the funding of, and support to, carers’ centres on the basis of locally assessed priorities.

  With regard to tendering, under the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2006, local authorities must decide, on a case by case basis, if the EC Treaty principles of equal treatment, non-discrimination and transparency require them to tender or re-tender a service. The Scottish Government published guidance in August 2008 which provided advice on the circumstances in which competitive tendering may be required and also set out scenarios where advertising and competition may not be required. The link to the 2008 guidance is:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/116601/0065310.pdf.

  The 2008 guidance underlines the need for local authorities to have a strategy for the procurement of social care services which recognises the need to maintain the quality and continuity of services and addresses the concerns of service users.

  We intend to publish further guidance and good practice materials in February 2010.

Carers

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that the needs of carers and young carers will be met by local authorities in the absence of ring-fencing.

Shona Robison: It is for local authorities to manage their own budgets and to allocate the total financial resources available to them on the basis of local needs and priorities, having first fulfilled their statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities. Under the concordat arrangement with local government, local authorities have more freedom and flexibility, particularly as we have greatly reduced the number of ring-fenced funding streams. In any event, there was previously no formally ring-fenced funding for carers within the local government settlement.

  The Carers Strategy for Scotland, including that part on young carers, is being developed in partnership with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA). As such, and in line with the principles of the concordat, it needs to be approved by COSLA, which should help ensure implementation at local level. The strategy will include high-level messages about the benefits of carer support, supported by evidence and set within the context of outcomes.

Carers

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to ensure the provision of respite care.

Shona Robison: Under the concordat, local authorities agreed to progress towards delivering 10,000 extra respite weeks per annum across Scotland. In addition to the concordat funding, as part of the overall local government settlement, the Scottish Government allocated an additional £1.37 million in 2009-10 and a further £2.82 million in 2010-11 to enable local authorities to deliver the extra respite weeks by 2011.

  We are working with a number of organisations to consider the way forward for the provision of flexible, personalised short breaks.

  Self-directed support (direct payments) is available to people following an assessment for community care services, and carers can gain respite as a result of the service provided to the cared-for person. We are currently considering options to extend direct payments to carers in their own right.

  The Carers Strategy for Scotland, to be published in the first half of 2010, will include a chapter on short breaks/respite provision.

Carers

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that carers are given the opportunity to complete a carer’s assessment and are provided with the support needed to continue as a carer.

Shona Robison: Under the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002 carers who intend to, or provide, a substantial amount of care on a regular basis are entitled to an assessment of their ability to provide or to continue to provide care (carer’s assessment), independent of any assessment of the person they care for. Young carers under 16 have the same rights to assessment. Our National Minimum Information Standards (NMIS) reiterate the need for good outcomes for carers.

  We are working with partners to increase the uptake of the carer’s assessment and to advance these as a means of ensuring better outcomes for unpaid carers in Scotland.

  The Carers Strategy for Scotland, to be published during the first half of 2010, will include a chapter on the carer’s assessment and provision of services in support of carers.

Dairy Industry

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that Scotland’s share of the recently announced 300 million euro EU funding package for the dairy industry will be used to support the most vulnerable dairy producers.

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with stakeholders regarding the distribution of Scotland’s share of the recently announced 300 million euro EU funding package for the dairy industry

Richard Lochhead: We are liaising with the Scottish dairy sector to ensure that this support is utilised to maximum effect.

Dairy Industry

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to distribute Scotland’s share of the recently announced 300 million euro EU funding package for the dairy industry to ensure that the producers experiencing the greatest difficulty will receive adequate support.

Richard Lochhead: A final decision on how to distribute the EU funding to the Scottish dairy sector will be made after the views of stakeholders have been received.

Dairy Industry

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to receive Scotland’s share of the recently announced 300 million euro EU funding package for the dairy industry.

Richard Lochhead: We expect to receive Scotland’s share of the EU dairy fund next year.

Dairy Industry

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to begin distributing Scotland’s share of the recently announced 300 million euro EU funding package for the dairy industry.

Richard Lochhead: We expect to be in a position to begin distributing Scotland’s share of the EU dairy fund during the first half of next year.

Environment

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of the misuse of pesticides or poisons were reported to the authorities in (a) 2007 and (b) 2008 and have been in 2009.

Richard Lochhead: A total of 198, 179 and 158 specimens were referred to the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme (WIIS) operated by Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture, a Division of the Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate of the Scottish Government in 2007, 2008 and 2009 to date, respectively. In 2007, from 198 specimens, 35 were identified as cases of pesticide abuse and three as misuse; in 2008, from 179 specimens, 23 were identified as cases of pesticide abuse and no cases of misuse were identified; in 2009, from 158 specimens, 36 were identified as cases of pesticide abuse and two as misuse.

  Abuse of a pesticide is defined as a form of deliberate, illegal attempt to poison an animal. Misuse is defined as the careless, accidental or wilful failure to adhere to correct practice.

Environment

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made representations to Perth and Kinross Council regarding the Perth incinerator proposal.

Richard Lochhead: Scottish ministers are statutory consultees under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Scotland) Regulations 1999. The proposal to build an incinerator in Perth required an Environmental Impact Assessment to be undertaken and accordingly Scottish ministers were consulted. Scottish Government responded, without substantive comments, to Perth and Kinross Council in April 2009.

  However, in respect to the actual application itself Scottish Government did not make any representations.

Ferry Services

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects construction work to start on the Fastlink between Milltimber and Stonehaven.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S3W-21263 on 9 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

  However, the report of the Public Local Inquiry is currently with ministers for decision. If that decision were to be to proceed, and the necessary Orders were then subsequently approved by Parliament, it would then be necessary to carry out a thorough review of the remaining stages of the project, including procurement, before issuing a definitive timetable.

Ferry Services

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects construction work to be completed on the Fastlink between Milltimber and Stonehaven.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S3W-13219 on 30 May 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website. The search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

  However, the report of the Public Local Inquiry is currently with ministers for decision. If that decision were to be to proceed, and the necessary Orders were then subsequently approved by Parliament, it would then be necessary to carry out a thorough review of the remaining stages of the project, including procurement, before issuing a definitive timetable.

Ferry Services

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding mechanism will be used to pay for the construction of the Fastlink between Milltimber and Stonehaven.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S3W-24477 on 10 June 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Freight

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, should cable drying on the Forth Road Bridge fail to arrest the corrosion in the main cables, whether it is envisaged that restrictions will be imposed on HGV traffic and whether such restrictions would limit the overall number of HGV vehicles using the bridge or the number allowed on at one time.

Stewart Stevenson: The Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA) has reported in June 2008 that if dehumidification fails to halt corrosion, then restrictions will more likely need to be considered at some time between 2017 and 2021.

  The Scottish Government has committed to delivering a replacement crossing by 2016, therefore avoiding the significant disruption to cross-Forth travel that vehicle restrictions would cause.

Freight

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, should cable drying on the Forth Road Bridge fail to arrest the corrosion on the main cables and restrictions be applied to the volume of HGV traffic allowed on the bridge at one time, what number of HGV vehicles it envisages allowing on the bridge.

Stewart Stevenson: The degree of future restrictions necessary across the Forth without the availability of the Forth Replacement Crossing (FRC) or the replacement of cables on the Forth Road Bridge (FRB) would depend on considerations based on future strength assessments. Because the cables have already been weakened by corrosion, the design factor of safety which we would wish to see restored in the longer term could only be achieved by the removal of all HGV and a proportion of other traffic.

Freight

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the percentage of freight tonnage commencing its journey in Fife that remains in Fife.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the percentage of freight tonnage commencing its journey in Fife that is travelling to (a) Edinburgh, (b) the Lothians region, (c) the Scottish Borders, (d) north-east England, (e) west central Scotland and (f) north-west England.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the percentage of freight tonnage arriving in Fife that originates in (a) Edinburgh, (b) the Lothians region, (c) the Scottish Borders, (d) north-east England, (e) west central Scotland and (f) north-west England.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the modal split between road and rail of freight tonnage commencing its journey in Fife.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the modal split between road and rail of freight tonnage arriving in Fife.

Stewart Stevenson: Origin – destination data on freight movements at a local authority level is not held centrally.

Freight

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the volume of freight traffic is on the Forth Rail Bridge.

Stewart Stevenson: There is currently no rail freight traffic moving on the Forth Rail Bridge. The allocation of train paths is a matter for Network Rail.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that all 54 Netcare staff at the Scottish Regional Treatment Centre at Stracathro Hospital are redeployed by NHS Tayside following the recent announcement about its return to the NHS.

Nicola Sturgeon: This is a matter for Tayside Health Board and I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28959, on 1 December 2009, which demonstrates the steps being taken by Tayside to secure positive outcomes for the staff affected by the decision by Netcare not to renew this contract.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have died as the result of a stroke prior to arrival at hospital in each NHS board area in each of the last 10 years.

Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally in the format requested.

  The following tables show the number of deaths from stroke in Scotland between 1999 and 2008 that occurred outwith hospital (including deaths at home and in care homes) broken down by NHS board area.

  

Health Board
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003


Ayrshire and Arran
239
230
263
256
227


Borders
48
27
51
46
53


Dumfries and Galloway
89
87
93
115
109


Fife
156
167
176
172
169


Forth Valley
129
147
157
141
140


Grampian
234
246
238
277
274


Greater Glasgow and Clyde
660
688
673
655
646


Highland (inc Argyll and Bute)
150
121
124
144
159


Lanarkshire
193
227
236
238
205


Lothian
388
362
381
358
333


Orkney
5
2
10
12
16


Shetland
7
3
8
6
8


Tayside
200
211
191
243
242


Western Isles
10
12
16
24
13


Total
2,508
2,530
2,617
2,687
2,594



  

Health Board
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008


Ayrshire and Arran
225
189
163
162
200


Borders
45
45
35
37
31


Dumfries and Galloway
94
87
75
93
65


Fife
143
138
126
131
137


Forth Valley
109
110
111
107
104


Grampian
221
241
225
205
208


Greater Glasgow and Clyde
640
595
533
464
446


Highland (inc Argyll and Bute)
132
140
114
160
155


Lanarkshire
197
230
192
202
194


Lothian
328
292
282
253
252


Orkney
7
9
3
3
8


Shetland
6
4
6
5
8


Tayside
232
195
198
175
170


Western Isles
11
14
16
10
16


Total
2,390
2,289
2,079
2,007
1,994



  Source: GROS.

  In 2010, the Scottish Stroke Care Audit plans to look at pre-hospital care of people who have had a stroke, by developing links with relevant data from the Scottish Ambulance Service and NHS24.

Health

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason heat-resistant bags to protect children from injury from hair straighteners are being provided free of charge by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde but must be paid for across the rest of Scotland.

Shona Robison: Heat-resistant bags are being provided as part of a campaign funded from a local resource allocation decision made by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and Strathclyde Fire and Rescue.

  NHS boards are responsible for investing their resources in a range of priorities which best meet the needs of their local populations and it is open to other boards to develop similar initiatives if they deem them to be of sufficient priority for investment.

Higher Education

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will bring forward arrangements to ensure that funding given to universities is subject to scrutiny by the Auditor General for Scotland and the Public Audit Committee.

Michael Russell: Those arrangements already exist. Scottish Government core funding for higher education institutions is provided through the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). The SFC has a remit to ensure that institutions are making proper arrangements for financial management and accounting, and are using SFC funds in ways which are consistent with the purpose for which they have been allocated. The Chief Executive of SFC is ultimately answerable for the use of these funds and may be called to appear before the Public Audit Committee to give evidence and answer questions. The Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 2005 provides that the Auditor General for Scotland may inspect the accounts and accounting records of all institutions funded by the SFC.

Mental Health

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many residents of care homes and nursing homes are receiving antipsychotic drugs.

Shona Robison: This information is not collected centrally.

  The recent report of the joint Mental Welfare Commission and Care Commission inspection of the care of people with dementia in care homes, Remember I’m Still Me, recorded that 33% of people in the 30 care homes inspected were taking antipsychotic medication and highlighted concerns about the use of medication. The Scottish Government accepted all the recommendations in the report and is working in partnership with key stakeholders to address the issues raised through the development of the Dementia Strategy.

Mental Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider introducing a waiting time target for general adult mental health services.

Shona Robison: Prior to May 2007, there were no waiting time targets for mental health. We have in place clear mental health delivery targets which continue to drive improvements across all mental health services to improve access. Most adults accessing mental health services for the first time do so within unplanned or crisis care, and this happens quickly.

  We are addressing those areas where delays occur in planned access to services. For the first time, we have established a referral to treatment waiting time target for access to specialist child and adolescent mental health services that means that by March 2013 no one will wait longer than 26 weeks. We are also working to establish an access target for psychological therapies.

Mental Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is regarding the reduction in mental health services in some local authorities.

Shona Robison: Local authorities and NHS boards have responsibility to work in partnership and allocate resources on the basis of local needs and priorities, within the context of the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectives and commitments.

  The concordat and single outcome agreements (SOAs) are designed to greatly enhance local decision-making and funding in all service areas – including mental health - based on the profiling of those needs and priorities within each local authority, and informed by local knowledge and experience.

  While we do not formally monitor the effects of the introduction of SOAs on specific services, work being undertaken on social care mental health benchmarking will give a clearer benchmark and more comparative information about activity, investment and, in time, outcomes.

  All local authorities have submitted their 2008-09 SOA annual report to the Scottish Government, and to their local communities. The Scottish Government intends to publish an overview commentary shortly, which will pick up key messages emerging from the reports. We also offer support and advice to enable local authorities and other partners to consider the strategic priorities across the range of community care areas to inform use of resources and service redesign, in order to improve outcomes for people who use services, and their carers

  We have also commissioned research on how the third sector is responding to the new opportunities and challenges arising from their new relationship with the public sector. This research was commissioned with the engagement of the third sector and public sector partners and will focus on a number of third sector organisations, the names of which should be published early next year.

Mental Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to meet the HEAT target to "reduce the annual rate of increase of defined daily dose per capita of antidepressants to zero by 2009-10 and put in place the required support framework to achieve a 10% reduction in future years".

Shona Robison: In order to meet this HEAT target, the Scottish Government has established the Mental Health Collaborative (MHC), whose primary role is to support NHS boards, and their key partners in delivering improvements in evidence-based prescribing of antidepressants and improved access to non-drug treatments (including psychological therapies).

  This is done by providing dedicated time to NHS boards to focus on improvement work; providing training in tools and techniques that have a track record of improving services; supporting Boards to then apply those techniques to this area of work, and enabling effective sharing of knowledge across Scotland about what is and what isn’t working to deliver improvements.

  In addition, we have also established Integrated Care Pathways (ICPs) for mental health in line with National standards and supported and accredited by NHS Quality Improvement to monitor and report on NHS board’s progress. A key milestone for development and implementation of "foundation level" accreditation was set for September 2009 and all NHS boards met this level.

  For non-drug treatments, we have increased capacity for improved access to evidence based psychological therapies; by ensuring that resources are used effectively by delivering only evidence-based care.

  The Mental Health Collaborative is already supporting boards to improve access times for psychological therapies. It will continue to provide support to ensure evidence based prescribing of antidepressants

  The Scottish Government has been working with NES to produce The Matrix - a Guide to delivering evidence-based Psychological Therapies in Scotland - which gives advice to health boards on the issues involved in the delivery of evidence-based psychological interventions, including strategic service planning, training standards, and adequate levels of supervision.

Mental Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to meet the HEAT target to "reduce the number of readmissions (within one year) for those that have had a hospital admission of over 7 days by 10% (by the end of December 2009)".

Shona Robison: A range of local actions are in train to support the readmissions target, which is designed to help drive improvements in community mental health services (notably in crisis and out-of-hours services), including patient pathways and effective discharge planning.

  NHS boards are working with others, and are supported by The Mental Health Collaborative, to support and meet this target. Actions include: mapping current services; gathering and analysing local data on readmissions; staff training; involving service users and carers in service improvement; and improving data systems.

  The NHS in Scotland is currently exceeding the readmissions target according to the latest available figures, with an overall decrease of 26%.

Mental Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to meet the HEAT target that "each NHS Board will achieve agreed improvements in the early diagnosis and management of patients with dementia (March 2011)".

Shona Robison: The Mental Health Collaborative is working closely with the NHS boards to ensure implementation of this target. This includes the development of good systems and processes needed to increase the number of people with a diagnosis as well as measures around the quality of the support offered.

  Support with this agenda is also offered in the twice yearly performance management reviews with NHS boards and partners by the Scottish Government’s Mental Health Delivery and Services Unit.

Mental Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in achieving the HEAT target to "reduce the number of readmissions (within one year) for those that have had a hospital admission of over 7 days by 10% (by the end of December 2009)".

Shona Robison: The NHS in Scotland is currently exceeding the readmissions target according to the latest available figures, with an overall decrease of 26%.

  This target will be tracked through to December 2010.

Mental Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in achieving the HEAT target to "reduce the suicide rate between 2002 and 2013 by 20%, supported by 50% of key frontline staff in mental health and substance misuse services, primary care, and accident and emergency being educated and trained in using suicide assessment tools/suicide prevention training programmes by (2010-2013)".

Shona Robison: The most recent data on NHS boards’ progress towards this target were published on 29 September 2009 at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Health/SuicidePreventionStats.

Mental Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in achieving the HEAT target that "each NHS Board will achieve agreed improvements in the early diagnosis and management of patients with dementia (March 2011)".

Shona Robison: This HEAT target is measured by the number of people with a diagnosis of a dementia on the GP Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) dementia register and NHS boards are working towards a target of 39,582 which equates to approximately 61% of the expected number of people in Scotland with Dementia as predicted by the European Community Concerted Action on the Epidemiology and Prevention of Dementia Group (Eurodem). Latest available data for March 2009 shows that the overall Scotland position requires a 13% increase.

  The Mental Health Collaborative has been supporting NHS boards to develop and put in place new systems and approaches to increase the number of people diagnosed. We expect the numbers to increase at a faster pace as these are fully implemented.

Mental Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is providing to the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) Get Active campaign.

Shona Robison: Government officials have met with representatives of the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) on several occasions to ensure their input to the development of the Commonwealth Games 2014 legacy plan. Since the launch of the plan, officials have been working closely with SAMH to ensure integration of their plans for 12 pilot projects to support delivery of the "Get Active" campaign, with the current roll out of the Community Sports Hubs network legacy project.

  In addition the Scottish Government has a long history of providing support and significant funding to SAMH in recognition of the valuable contribution they make to promoting, campaigning and delivering services for those with a mental health problem, their carers and families.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to increase the number of psychologists working with older people.

Shona Robison: We have been actively working with NHS Education for Scotland (NES) to develop training, both for shorter MSc courses for psychologists and for a range of other clinicians to deliver psychological therapies.

  Since NES took over responsibility for Clinical Psychology Doctoral Level training, there has been a significant increase in both the numbers of Clinical Psychologists in training - rising from 100 in 2002, to 198 in 2008 - and the number employed in NHS Scotland - rising from 359 in 2002, to 582 in 2008.

  While we recognise that historically the availability of psychological services for older people has been poor, the Scottish Government has committed to develop an access target for psychological therapies and is giving particular consideration to the needs of older people in that work.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will increase the availability and access to evidence-based psychological therapies for all age groups in a range of settings and through a range of providers and, if so, how.

Shona Robison: We have a specific commitment to expand and improve access to psychological therapies for all ages in a range of settings, and we are working closely with NHS Education for Scotland and NHS boards to deliver on this commitment and meet patient’s needs better and sooner.

  We have established a Psychological Therapies Group to oversee the implementation of the advice in The Matrix - a tool for NHS boards to use in reviewing available evidence and in considering which psychological interventions might best be used to meet local need and demand - its continuous updating, and to expand its coverage to other key priority areas in Mental Health.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to provide training by psychologists for staff working with older people.

Shona Robison: We are working with NHS Education for Scotland (NES) to support "Psychological Therapies Training Co-ordinator" posts in Health Boards to provide the educational infrastructure necessary to ensure training and supervision are well-organised, sustainable, and have maximum service impact.

  Good quality psychological therapies supervision is essential for the delivery of evidence-based care. NES has developed competence-based psychological therapies supervision training, which is being rolled out on a "training for trainers" basis across Scotland.

  In partnership with the Scottish Government, NES has supported or commissioned training in a number of evidence-based therapies, including those orientated towards older people.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider the appointment of a lead officer for psychology in Scotland.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government Health Directorates obtain advice from a range of expert sources when developing policy, including from professionals involved in delivering psychological services across Scotland. This system works effectively and there are no plans currently to consider the appointment of a lead officer for psychology in Scotland.

  In response to the increased demand for access to applied psychologists and psychological therapies, we are currently considering the role that applied psychologists can play in developing the overall psychological competence of the workforce. NHS boards have been asked to comment on a draft report and recommendations which aims to inform local workforce planning and service delivery and we look forward to their response.

  Copies of the report and covering letter have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. numbers 49878 and 49879).

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to ensure that there is an input from a psychology professional in the planning of all relevant services.

Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to questions S3W-29641 and S3W-29645 on 15 December 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how psychologists’ skills can be fully employed to give support for children and parents to ensure that issues are diagnosed and appropriate support located and provided.

Shona Robison: Psychologists are a valuable contribution to the child and adolescent mental health workforce and to this end we are investing £1 million this year, rising to £3.5 million in 2011-12 to support NHS boards to increase the number of psychologists working in specialist CAMHS.

  This money will be specifically targeted at increasing the number of clinical and masters grade psychologists working in specialist CAMHS in the NHS in Scotland and will support both additional training places and additional posts to ensure that the investment in training is translated into increased capacity.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how health psychology is being used to influence health behaviours.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is developing and making use of this discipline to inform a number of social marketing campaigns including Take Life On and the Steps for Stress campaigns.

  Psychologists are also working directly with patients in various parts of the NHS, and the Scottish Government is working in partnership with NHS Education for Scotland to provide, and broker the provision of, training in evidence-based psychological interventions, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to support this work.

  Furthermore the Government has funded the stage two professional training  (i.e. professional chartership) for seven health psychologists through NHS Education Scotland at a number of Scottish health boards.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how psychology vacancies can be used as an integral part of health services development.

Shona Robison: NHS boards are expected to take all workforce issues, in particular the skill mix required to deliver a specific service, into account when planning service developments. This will include, where relevant, consideration of local psychology vacancies.

  In response to the increased demand for access to applied psychologists and psychological therapies, we are currently considering the role that applied psychologists can play in developing the overall psychological competence of the workforce. NHS Boards have been asked to comment on a draft report and recommendations which aims to inform local workforce planning and service delivery and we look forward to their response.

  Copies of the report and covering letter have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. numbers 49878 and 49879).

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether mental health patients are given choice and access to psychology and psychiatric services as an alternative to drug-based treatments.

Shona Robison: Patients accessing specialist mental health services are given a full assessment and will be offered, following discussion with them, treatment appropriate to their needs. This may include pharmacological, "talking therapies" or social support, or a combination of all three of these. They will be offered support by the team to make their choice based on the best evidence available to improve outcomes in their condition (using evidence from the NICE, SIGN, and Cochrane guidelines).

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure close partnership and communication between psychologists and the people involved in public health policy development.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government and the British Psychological Society (Scotland) are jointly funding the secondment of two health psychologists for 12 months from April 2009, to inform public health policy development.

  The Chief Scientists Office (CSO) also funds research to which health psychology expertise is central, including projects to investigate sexual risk behaviour in adolescents with anti-social behaviour problems; interventions which increase adherence to medication after stroke, and the relationship between chronic pain and disability in the community.

Mental Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the use of call-off contracts by local authorities in the procurement of social care services and, if so, by which authorities.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is aware that a number of local authorities in Scotland and elsewhere in the UK have established framework agreements for the procurement of social care services. However, we do not hold a central record of framework agreements established by local authorities. We are seeking further examples of good practice in relation to the establishment of framework agreements in this context to accompany the forthcoming guidance on social care procurement.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what evaluation it has undertaken of applied psychology in the NHS and what plans it has to publish the outputs of any such work.

Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-29412 on 8 December 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

  Copies of the report and covering letter have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. numbers 49878 and 49879).

Poverty

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-28952 by Alex Neil on 26 November 2009, what projects have received funding from the £7.5 million allocated to support its poverty framework, broken down by (a) amount awarded and (b) date of award.

Alex Neil: The £7.5million funding allocated to support the implementation of Achieving our Potential applies to 2009-10 and 2010-11. To date, the following projects have been allocated funding from the resources identified to support the implementation of Achieving our Potential :

  Macmillan Cancer Support initiative to provide income maximisation across its cancer treatment centres has been allocated £1.1 million over two years, agreed in May 2009.

  Link Housing Association Older People’s Advice Service has been allocated £700,000 over two years, agreed in October 2009.

  Citizens Advice Direct initiative to provide telephone benefit checks to those people referred through the Energy Assistance Package and Home Insulation Scheme has been allocated £160,000 over two years, agreed in April 2009.

  The Scottish Book Trust has been allocated £107,000 over two years to develop a narrative resource to support financial capability work for 16 to 25 year olds, agreed in April 2009.

  Other Achieving our Potential funding has been awarded to Citizens Advice Scotland to enhance their capacity to deliver debt and welfare rights advice, to support advice agencies to become accredited against the Scottish National Standards for Information and Advice Providers, to Save the Children for research into severe child poverty, and to the European Anti-Poverty Network towards an event to promote the European Year for Combating Poverty.

Poverty

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-28952 by Alex Neil on 26 November 2009, how much of the £7.5 million allocated to support its poverty framework remains to be spent.

Alex Neil: The £7.5 million funding allocated to support the implementation of Achieving our Potential applies to 2009-10 and 2010-11. To date, £1.5 million has been spent from the Achieving our Potential budget. This spend includes funding to new projects, funding for national and local infrastructure to support service delivery, and additional funding to organisations such as Citizens Advice Scotland and Money Advice Scotland to respond to the further challenges of the economic downturn.

  Over the two year period, a total of £3.5 million has so far been committed from the Achieving our Potential budget.

Prescriptions

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prescriptions for natalizumab, brand name Tysabri, have been dispensed in each of the last two years, broken down by NHS board.

Shona Robison: This information is not available.

  Natalizumab (Tysabri®) therapy should be initiated and supervised by specialist physicians experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of neurological conditions, in centres with timely access to MRI. It is administered by intravenous infusion in an outpatient clinic setting with resources for the management of hypersensitivity reactions.

  Prescription data collected centrally relate to prescribed items dispensed in the community by community pharmacists and dispensing doctors.

Roads

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has instructed a review of the section of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route between Charleston and Milltimber.

Stewart Stevenson: No such review has been instructed.

Roads

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects construction work to start on the section of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route between Charleston and Milltimber.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S3W-21263 on 9 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

  However, the report of the Public Local Inquiry is currently with ministers for decision. If that decision were to be to proceed, and the necessary Orders were then subsequently approved by Parliament, it would then be necessary to carry out a thorough review of the remaining stages of the project, including procurement, before issuing a definitive timetable.

Roads

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects construction work to be completed on the section of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route between Charleston and Milltimber.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S3W-13219 on 30 May 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website. The search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

  However, the report of the Public Local Inquiry is currently with ministers for decision. If that decision were to be to proceed, and the necessary Orders were then subsequently approved by Parliament, it would then be necessary to carry out a thorough review of the remaining stages of the project, including procurement, before issuing a definitive timetable.

Roads

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding mechanism will be used to pay for the construction of the section of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route between Charleston and Milltimber.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S3W-24477 on 10 June 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Skills Development Scotland

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much quarterly staff salary costs have been at Skills Development Scotland since its inception.

Keith Brown: Quarterly staff costs for Skills Development Scotland since its inception in April 2008 are as follows:

  

 
2008
2009


Quarter 1
8,001,700
12,127,936


Quarter 2
8,236,000
7,725,936


Quarter 3
8,023,000
 


Quarter 4
8,001,700

Social Services

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that call-off contracts should be used in the procurement of social care services.

Shona Robison: "Call-off contracts" are contracts awarded under the terms and conditions set out in a framework agreement with a service provider or number of service providers. The establishment of a framework agreement allows a public body to make individual purchases without repeating many of the stages of a competitive tendering process.

  The Scottish Government recognises that the use of framework agreements can be appropriate in the context of social care procurement. The forthcoming guidance on social care procurement will provide information on the establishment of framework agreements and the award of call-off contracts under a framework agreement.

Social Services

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has produced guidance on the use of call-off contracts in the procurement of social care services.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government published guidance on social care procurement in August 2008 which provided advice on the requirement to advertise framework agreements for social care services, where necessary to comply with the EC Treaty’s transparency principles. The guidance confirmed that call-off contracts awarded under a framework agreement do not need to be re-advertised if the framework agreement has itself been the subject of adequate publicity.

  The guidance is available on the Scottish Government’s website:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/116601/0065310.pdf.

  The forthcoming guidance on social care procurement will provide information on the establishment of framework agreements and the award of call-off contracts under a framework agreement.

Social Services

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the delayed guidance on procurement of social services will comment on call-off contracts.

Shona Robison: The forthcoming guidance on social care procurement will provide information on the establishment of framework agreements and the award of call-off contracts under a framework agreement.

Sport

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to establishing a centre of sporting excellence in Inverness to aid the development of talented sportsmen and women in the Highlands and Islands disadvantaged due to the distances required to travel to access top class training facilities.

Shona Robison: It would be for the Highland Council, in partnership with key stakeholders including the Highland Institute of Sport, to determine if a centre of sporting excellence is appropriate to help with the development of talented sportsmen and sportswomen in the Highlands and Islands. The Scottish Government and sportscotland will provide support and assistance where appropriate.

Transport

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what visits and study tours were undertaken by officials regarding airport rail links.

Stewart Stevenson: In addition to frequent visits to Glasgow and Edinburgh airports to examine operational details of relevance to rail links, Transport Scotland personnel have made the following relevant visits since 1 January 2006:

  

Visit
Location / Project
Date
Attendees
Purpose


1
Docklands Light Railway (DLR) - London City Airport and Canary Wharf
8 February 2006
Transport Scotland Rail Delivery Personnel (GARL, EARL, Edinburgh Trams, Edinburgh Waverley, Borders Railway), SPT (GARL) and tie Ltd (EARL) personnel
Opportunity to meet with key personnel involved in the construction and operation of DLR and to get their input on issues such as: project planning, procurement, funding, construction, contracting strategy, operations and performance 


2
Edinburgh Waverley Station
9 March 2006
Transport Scotland Rail Delivery personnel
Visit to Edinburgh Waverley project for a presentation by the Network Rail / Transport Scotland project team. Design, procurement and construction phasing etc


3
Finneston Bridge - Glasgow
17 March 2006
Transport Scotland Rail Delivery personnel
Visit to Finneston Bridge project for presentation by the project delivery team, followed by site visit. Bridge Construction of interest to GARL project team


4
Cologne (Germany)
November 2006
Transport Scotland Rail Delivery and Rail Technical Team personnel
Opportunity to observe Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) in operation in a tight urban environment. Opportunity for personnel involved in delivery of EARL project to see proposed tunnelling technique in-situ


5
Shanghai Airport
May 2007
Transport Scotland, Head of Rail Technical Team (HRTT)
Visit as part of the annual IMechE Technical visit to China. Afforded the HRTT the opportunity to visit the Maglev Control Centre and Depot


6
Kincardine - Upper Forth Crossing
11 December 2007
Transport Scotland Rail Delivery personnel
Visit to Finneston Bridge project for presentation by the project delivery team, followed by site visit. Bridge Construction of interest to GARL project team


7
Aberdeen Airport - new Car Park
14 July 2009
Transport Scotland Rail Delivery personnel
Opportunity to observe the operation and set up of the new car parking facilities with respect to the reprovision of facilities for GARL

Transport

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide the notes and records of visits or studies undertaken by officials in relation to airport rail links.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-29622 on 15 December 2009, which set out the purpose of visits undertaken by Transport Scotland officials, in relation to airport rail links, from January 2006.

  In the majority of instances the purpose of the visit was to: acquaint personnel with the line of the route; consider specific issues in-situ; or to afford the opportunity to visit projects with similar characteristics or which were using comparable equipment to that proposed for airport rail link projects in Scotland.

  As such the forum was: either one where notes were taken informally by individual officials with respect to specific areas of interest; or where information was provided on an "in confidence" basis by third parties, to inform the development of airport rail link projects in Scotland. Accordingly, it would not be appropriate to provide copies of these notes.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Transport

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken or is proposed in relation to the letter from Alan Blackshaw to Sir John Elvidge of 27 November 2009 regarding possible unauthorised use of grant-in-aid by Highland and Islands Enterprise on the Cairngorm funicular project, as referred to in the Public Audit Committee meeting of 2 December 2009.

Jim Mather: Highlands and Islands Enterprise is responsible for determining best value in the allocation of its resources consistent with delivery of the objectives and priorities agreed with Scottish ministers and set out in its Corporate Plan. I have written to HIE’s Acting Chief Executive, Sandy Brady, asking him to respond to you directly on this issue.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Parliament Contracts

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Presiding Officer what the cost of each contract is for window (a) cleaning, (b) repair, (c) maintenance and (d) other work to keep the building wind and watertight for the next eight years.

Alex Johnstone: Cleaning and coating of window frames, along with any other minor works required to keep the building wind and watertight, will be a requirement of the new high level fabric maintenance contract.

  The SPCB is currently undertaking a tender exercise to procure high level fabric maintenance services for a seven year period. The contract is due to be awarded by mid March 2010. The value of this contract will be published on the Parliament’s website following contract award.

  Some routine maintenance to windows will also be undertaken through the MITIE maintenance contract which commences on 31 January 2010.

Parliament Contracts

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will provide the (a) terms, (b) cost and (c) cost overrun of the Norland Managed Services contract in each of the last five years.

Alex Johnstone: The terms of the Norland Managed Services contract will be provided on request to Procurement Services.

  The cost of the Norland Managed Services contract is published on the Parliament’s website and updated quarterly.

  Detailed below is the yearly breakdown of expenditure under this contract since contract commencement in July 2004.

  

Year
Cost (exc. VAT)


July 2004 – June2005
£427,176


July 2005 – June 2006
£596,986


July 2006 – June 2007
£845,113


July 2007 – June 2008
£1,500,693


July 2008 – June 2009
£2,625,994


Total Expenditure to June2009
£5,995,962



  The annual contract costs include spend against planned and reactive maintenance and project work.

  The total expenditure exceeds the initial estimated contract value of £1.1 million.

  Holyrood is a unique building, bespoke in its design, and as the building ages this has an impact on both planned and reactive maintenance. We constantly review and develop our maintenance plans to ensure asset performance meets business needs and cost-effective solutions are delivered.

Parliament Contracts

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what contracts it has in place for the maintenance of (a) lighting and (b) carpets.

Alex Johnstone: Lighting maintenance is covered within the current building maintenance contract. The SPCB has a contract for carpet supply and installation with MJM Flooring (Scotland) Ltd. The replacement of carpets can also be procured through the building maintenance contract with Mitie, which will commence on 31 Jan 2010.

  Details of these contracts are published on the Parliament’s website and are updated quarterly.